Good day. Here are the top stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

READ: Teves fears for safety

FEAR for his safety is preventing Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. from returning to the Philippines, his lawyer said Monday. Speaking at a forum in Quezon City, Ferdinand Topacio reiterated that his client, who is in the United States, "definitely intends to return to clear his name." But Topacio said the congressman is worried about his security once he gets back. Teves has been implicated as the mastermind in the March 4 killing of his clan's political rival, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. Eight other individuals were killed when Degamo was gunned down at his residence in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental. Teves is facing multiple murder complaints in connection with a series of murders in the province in 2019. He is undergoing "stem cell treatment" in the US, Topacio said. Toby Diokno, another lawyer for Teves, said the lawmaker wants to answer the allegations against him, but wants to make sure he and his family will be safe before setting a date for his return. He stressed that Teves "did not flee," since "he was outside the country when the incident happened."

READ: Study: Rise in ocean plastic pollution 'unprecedented'

PLASTIC pollution in the world's oceans has reached "unprecedented levels" over the past 15 years, a new study has found, calling for a legally binding international treaty to stop the harmful waste. Ocean plastic pollution is a persistent problem around the globe — animals may become entangled in larger pieces of plastic like fishing nets, or ingest microplastics that eventually enter the food chain to be consumed by humans. Research published on Wednesday found that there are an estimated 170 trillion pieces of plastic, mainly microplastics, on the surface of the world's oceans today, much of it discarded since 2005. The amounts were higher than previous estimates, and the study found that the rate of plastic entering the oceans could accelerate several-fold in the coming decades if left unchecked.

READ: Michelle Yeoh makes history, wins best actress Oscar

Michelle Yeoh on Sunday made history by becoming the first Asian woman to win the best actress Oscar, for her exuberant portrayal of an immigrant business owner thrust into a zany multiverse in the sci-fi trip "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The 60-year-old Hollywood veteran won over Academy voters with her complex take on Evelyn Wang, who must navigate life in America as well as a complex multiverse that contains endless variations of her existence. Yeoh won top honors over strong performances from Cate Blanchett ("Tar"), Michelle Williams ("The Fabelmans"), Andrea Riseborough ("To Leslie") and Ana de Armas ("Blonde"). "Everything," directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, arrived at Hollywood's biggest gala at the top of the nominations pile with 11 chances at Oscars glory, including for best picture.

READ: Empowered women take center stage in Times forum

IN recognition of the pivotal roles women play in today's society, The Manila Times in cooperation with DMark Beauty presents a business forum today, March 14, entitled "Women Making A Change For Women. To be held at the Seda Residences in Makati City, the forum will feature distinguished women who exude what female empowerment is. Maria Victoria Españo is the chairman and CEO of Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A Grant Thornton). Agnes Gervacio is CEO of Connected Women. Jenny Lyn Maaño-Ngai is the co-founder and president of Sunsmart Solar Power Technology Inc. Margarita Ignacia Nograles is PBA party-list representative. Nikki Tang is CEO of DMark Beauty and DermAsia Corp.

Topping Business

READ: 'Big opportunities exist' for growth – McKinsey

THE Philippines can achieve "sound economic growth" despite global headwinds if companies in key sectors take advantage of opportunities to adapt and innovate, Mckinsey & Co. said. In a March 7 report, the global management consulting firm noted that the world was again in an era of upheaval — caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical events — similar to the post World War 2 boom, the 1972-1974 "Era of Contention" and the 1989-1992 "Era of Markets." The real estate sector, for example, will likely be hit by higher policy rates and supply chain issues this year. As for travel and hospitality, McKinsey noted factors such as the popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle and increased awareness of eco-friendly travel options that could change the way how visitors and locals arrive and travel through the country. Banks and other financial institutions, meanwhile, were said to be responding to current challenges such as rising interest rates and inflation by prioritizing interoperability and digitalization, reducing bad loans, establishing digital banks and making services more inclusive and accessible. Energy firms should work on addressing looming supply constraints and accelerate a transition to renewable energy. Healthcare providers face staffing and price challenges. Private sector players were said to be working to improve the value chain and making a strong effort to tap growing online markets and other ancillary services.

In Sports

READ: Crossovers fight for life vs Angels

CHERY Tiggo fights for its semifinal chances when it faces Petro Gazz today, March 14, in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City.The Crossovers face the Angels at 4 p.m. Chery Tiggo snapped its three-game skid and pumped some life to its semifinal bid after defeating Choco Mucho 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 last Thursday. As it stands, the Crossovers occupy the fifth spot with a 4-3 win-loss card laced with 13 points, tailing the fourth-running PLDT High Speed Hitters (5-2, 15 points) and the third seed Angels (5-2, 16 points). The league-leading and defending champs Creamline Cool Smashers (6-1, 19 points) and the second-running F2 Logistics Cargo Movers (6-2, 16 points) are the only teams which clinched semifinals berths.

READ: Scheffler returns to World No.1 after Players triumph

American Scottie Scheffler won The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass by five strokes on Sunday (Monday in Manila) to return to number one in the world rankings. Scheffler ran away with the US PGA Tour showdown at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, after making five straight birdies between the eighth and 12th holes while his closest rival, Australian Min Woo Lee imploded. The defending Masters champion, who ended on 17-under par 271, will replace Spain's Jon Rahm atop the rankings on Monday. Rahm withdrew from the event due to illness. The 26-year-old from New Jersey won four events on the tour last year, including at Augusta, and now has two more already this season, having won in Phoenix last month.

READ: Opinion/Editorial

The Times, in its editorial, writes about holding up half of the world, referring to the situation of women in the Philippines which, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, can best be described as full of contradictions. Read the full version in print or in digital or listen to the Voice of the Times. The featured columnists on the front page are Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Orlando Mercado. Contreras writes about private rights, public duty and a sense of kapwa; Makabenta on China's claim of "historic rights" in the South China Sea and Germany's pursuit of "living space" in Europe; and Mercado on the problem with plastics.

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This is Kim Salinas reporting.